2023 CPL Regular Season — Match #56**
** Halifax Wanderers vs. Pacific FC**
** July 11, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. AT / 6:00 p.m. ET **
** **Wanderers Grounds in Halifax, Nova Scotia
** Watch Live: OneSoccer.ca & TELUS Ch. 980 // Tickets available here
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The Halifax Wanderers will be looking to keep their club-record home-winning streak alive as the league’s best road team, and also the team at the top of the CPL table, Pacific FC, come to town on Tuesday night. The Tridents are the league’s only undefeated club away from home this year, with three wins and a draw. Halifax, meanwhile, are now tied with Cavalry for the most points per game in the league at home, with three wins, a draw and a loss through five matches in Nova Scotia this season. Halifax was undefeated in four matches before a trip to Langley on Friday, where they were stunned 2-1 by last-place Vancouver FC. The Wanderers will be trying to reverse their fortunes against the team at the other end of the table on Tuesday. “They are the first-place team, they have been pretty much unbeatable all season,” said Halifax head coach Patrice Gheisar about Pacific. “We have got a good run of home form, knock on wood, so we want to keep that moving. I think more important for me, I would love to see our guys rebound after a disappointing game on Friday.” Pacific, meanwhile, suffered just their second defeat of the campaign, and first since April 30, as they also fell by a 2-1 scoreline at home against Cavalry this past Saturday. “I think they [Halifax] had a good run of games, and then a difficult match against Vancouver,” said Pacific FC head coach James Merriman. “So I’m sure they’re also going to want to show a response, similar to us losing to Cavalry. So I think we are in a similar position in that we want to bounce back quickly and show a big reaction. I think it makes for a good match between two good teams.” The lone meeting between the two sides this season ended in a 1-1 draw back on May 27, with a first-half goal from Adonijah Reid being cancelled out by a late Aidan Daniels equalizer. Despite having won more matches in the head-to-head series between the two sides, Pacific has won just once in club history at the Wanderers Grounds, a 2-0 victory last season. Both sides will be coming to the match from the west coast, making fatigue a significant factor. Merriman says his side are healthy heading into Tuesday’s match, and the majority of rotation will be in the interest of giving players an opportunity who haven’t necessarily played much of late in his highly competitive squad. Halifax, meanwhile, could also see rotation after their cross-country travel, but one player who will certainly be unavailable is central defender Cristian Campagna, who will miss the match through suspension due to yellow card accumulation. The club announced on Monday that 2021 CPL Player of the Year Joao Morelli has been added to the active roster, as well as being signed to a new contract. Gheisar has already been impressed with the leadership and the quality the Brazilian has shown in training but stressed the importance of being patient in re-introducing him into the lineup — both for his physical state and confidence as he returns to pro soccer for the first time in over a year. While he is unlikely against Pacific, he should be in the Halifax lineup in the next 2-3 games if all goes to plan.
All CPL matches are available to stream on OneSoccer, or on TELUS Optik TV Channel 980.
3 THINGS TO WATCH
- The match marks the halfway point of the CPL season for both sides: Tuesday’s clash will be match number 14 for both the Halifax Wanderers and Pacific FC, meaning they have officially reached the halfway point of the 2023 CPL season. For Gheisar, he says his first half-season as a CPL coach has been a bit of a rollercoaster, learning to deal with factors like travel and how to get the best of his talented but inexperienced young group on an individual level. The experienced Merriman, meanwhile, will really be looking to maintain his side’s position atop the CPL table over the second half, mentioning finding consistency in his starting XIs as an important focus for the club over the next few months. Both sides will be looking to end the first half of the season on a positive note on Tuesday, with Halifax setting their sights on a first-ever playoff appearance, while Pacific try to win a first regular season title, over the coming months. * **Depth for Pacific will be tested during busy road trip: **In one of the most difficult stretches of their season, Pacific made the trip across the country after playing against Cavalry at home on Saturday for Tuesday’s clash with the Wanderers. They then quickly travel down to Toronto for a match against York United on Friday, July 14. While it will be an exhausting stretch for the Tridents, it is also a very important one for many of Pacific’s players. Merriman mentioned that as his side gear towards the business end of the 2023 season, they want to rotate less and identify the first-choice players on their side going forward. This stretch might be the last real showcase for a few players to make an impression. “As we come into the second half of the season I think we will want to become more consistent with our eleven, so these are big, big games for us, especially for the squad,” said Merriman. * **Massimo Ferrin becoming a key creator in the Halifax attack: **As he reaches the midway point of his first season in the Canadian Premier League, Massimo Ferrin is starting to hit his stride again as a key creator in Halifax’s attack. After a bright start to the 2023 season, Ferrin was injured in his third match, something that Gheisar said disrupted the player’s rhythm. After scoring the opener against Forge FC the weekend before, Ferrin had an assist and created four chances, while completing six dribbles, against Vancouver. His directness and creativity in the final third, as well as his tireless work rate, are making him part of the core of this young Halifax side. “He’s a pleasure to be with every day,” said Gheisar. “He puts his head down, he works, he defends, he attacks, he creates chances. I’m not sure what else I can ask that young man”. He mentioned that he believes there is plenty more growth potential for the player over the next few seasons, with all the attributes to eventually progress to a higher level if he continues to grow within his game. The first step, perhaps, will be learning to be more consistently productive on the scoresheet in the second half of the season.
PROJECTED STARTING XIs
Halifax Wanderers: Fillion; Fernandez, Nimick, Loughrey, Timoteo; Callegari, Omar; Daniels, Giraldo, Ferrin; Coimbra
**Pacific FC: **Baskett; Dada-Luke, Didic, Meilleur-Giguère, Mukumbilwa; Toussaint, Aparicio, Young; Heard, Manneh, Ongaro
ALL-TIME SERIES
Halifax Wanderers wins: 4 || Pacific FC wins: 6 || Draws: 5
Previous match:
May 27, 2023 — Pacific FC 1-1 Halifax Wanderers
KEY QUOTES
“It is a moment for us to get back, and I think what defines this group of young men is the game they play after a setback. So I personally can’t wait for it.” — Halifax Wanderers head coach Patrice Gheisar. “I think we feel good, we feel up for the challenge. Might give us the possibility to allow other players to step up and play a big match for us so I think overall the group is looking forward to the match” — Pacific FC head coach James Merriman.